Is this the same group Reel Music just issued a shelved album that they recorded for Motown back in the 70s? I've never heard of them and I was raised in the 70s. They must not have had any big hits.

kitbradley said:

Is this the same group Reel Music just issued a shelved album that they recorded for Motown back in the 70s? I've never heard of them and I was raised in the 70s. They must not have had any big hits.

Yeah they sang backup for Willie Hutch.

Interview conducted by phone in London with Sisters Love in Los Angeles, April 1973

Determination is an essential for any performer to succeed; when you've got determination and talent, you've won half the battle. The other half relates to the kind of material you perform, its suitability and then to more abstract aspects like public accepantance, promotion and so on.

For the Sisters Love, half that battle has been won virtually since they formed some five years back. But, sadly, they are still fighting that other part - and that can often be a very frustrating fight, as members of the group explained recently when I spoke to them in L.A.

It seems that, for some reason, the girls are still waiting for that elusive hit single and the resultant public recognition. As anyone who's ever seen their live act can testify (they were here last November with the Jackson Five), they are dynamite in person so there's no problem in winning anyone over in that sector. But record-wise, they remain in the wilderness as far as the States is concerned.

Originally with A&M, the group moved to Motown nearly two years ago but since then, only two singles!

"It is very difficult for us to understand," explains Lillie Fort, "but they tell us they have a definite 'plan' for us. Naturally, we've been getting increasingly impatient because nothing seems to have been happening. "Mr. Fix It Man" didn't really do as well as it should - and we've just had a new record out - the first since then. It's called "My Love Is Yours" and was written and produced by Gloria Jones. But it's one of some forty-five tracks we've got in the can!" I could hardly believe my ears when Lillie told me that, but she repeated it. "You see, we've worked with practically every producer they've got here - Hal Davis, Willie Hutch, Gloria - all of them. If they have, say, ten producers here, we've worked with nine of 'em! The thing is the company is not entirely satisfied with most of the tracks - although personally, we all feel there are some really good ones in there."

Having heard the group's incredible version of Curtis Mayfield's "Give Me Your Love" (from "Superfly") and the really powerful and stunning flip of thier current US single, entitled "You Got My Mind" - courtesy of Phil Symes - I can attest that if they are examples of what's in the can and they're regarded as not good enough, I wonder exactly which direction Motown wants the girls you go.

"Naturally, the group is very concerned with our lack of releases but we've been told there are problems with promotion. Well the company just hired seventeen new people in the promotion department, so we're all hoping!" I told Little that Motown here had released a different single from the one issued in the Sattes. "Well, let me ask you what you think of it?" I had to admit that my personal preference is for the funky and far more commercial flip, "Try It, You'll Like It" - which Contempo [UK record store] buyers seem to find preferable as well. It's more in the vein of "Mr. Fix It Man and more suitable for disco play.

But the topside, "I'm Learning To Trust My Man" is still a fine testament to the group's capabilities. "Well, we're really pleased that there should be so much interest in us over there. We really did enjoy ourselves in London, you know - it was truly fantastic."

Since then, Lillie said, the group has been working but she explained that "the jobs have been less frequent but more important in status. We did the Push Expo recently and we've done three or four tours with the J5. Naturally, we're very happy to be accompanying the group - they're fantastic guys. But we do feel we're not reaching the kind of audience we should - the more adult, sophisticated people. There is talk that we'll be doing tours with the Temps and Stevie Wonder but, at the moment, it is just talk and nothing's been settled!"

Following the recent interview in B&S with Willie Hutch, it was revealed through the group's manager that Willie got the job of writing the soundtrack [for 'The Mack']. "Yes, we all know Willie real well. We appeared in 'The Mack' as The Sisters Love in a night club scene singing "Now Is The Time" - we did that last summer."

Lillie left me by saying she hoped things would work out for the group and maybe it wouldn't be too long before they finally made it. And speaking to another Sister, Gwen Berry, I got the same kind of response. "You know, it's like we're ready to just explode. We know we can make it and it's so frustrating all this waiting for things to happen. Really, we should have had an album out by now - that would certainly have helped us get across to the public. They are talking about getting one together and they may use some of the tracks they've got and have us do some more. Right now, we just feel like four bodies functioning with one head and we all want much more to be happening than is right now."

With the current increased involvement of A&M Records within the soul field (what with Billy Preston and all), I asked Gwen is she now had any regrets about leaving the company. "They really weren't geared for us then - they just didn't know how to promote the group. We had some great material - we've never had any problem with material, in fact. But A&M just weren't ready for us. However, they did hold the biggest press party they've ever had just before we left - and they had some 1500 people there so I guess they must have thought something of us!"

Certainly no one with an ear for talent could not think something of the group; they have a pretty unique sound and I remarked that, much like The Sweet Inspirations, they were obviously rooted in gospel music. "Right - I know that when I was young, I used to sing at my grandmother's church in Ohio with my cousins (who just happen to be The Isley Brothers!) and the group definitely has a strong gospel sound. Thing is, we all have to 'feel' a song before we do it; what we usually do is sit down and work out how we're gonna do a number - you know, who's gonna sing what."

That probably accounts for the girls' fantastic harmonies. Originally, of course, those harmonies were developed when the group were with Ray Charles as The Raelets. Did they ever miss those days? "Well, it would be wrong if I said I never thought back to those times," said Gwen. "I do often wonder what would have happened if I'd stayed with Ray - but as it is I'm hoping with The Sisters Love, everything will work out. All we've got to do is hold on - you know, just keep slipping it over and all just hang on in there!"

When I asked Gwen what was the place where the group was most popular, she replied, quite seriously, London. I told her they are welcome here any day - they can hang on in London just as long as they like. Maybe it will take British enthusiasm to give The Sisters Love the big breakthrough they need and deserve. They are certainly an exceptionally talented and soulful group and it must surely be just a matter of time before they make it. In the words of one of the songs in their act, now is the time for The Sisters Love.

http://www.soulmusic.com/silo19in.html